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Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park Native hapu`u tree ferns abound in the rain forest
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Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
What's Going on With the Volcano?

Eruption Update:

January 4, 2012 update: The West Kaʻiliʻili ocean entry is currently in a state of pause. There is no ocean entry or surface lava flows. Please check back for updates.

 
End of Chain of Craters Road

NPS

The End of Chain of Craters Road

Surface flowing lava is CURRENTLY NOT accessible from the end of Chain of Craters Road. The hike to West Kaʻiliʻili area is extremely arduous, advanced and challenging and should only be attempted by the most physically fit people. It is roughly 10 miles round trip with an estimated time to complete of at least 5.5 hours. Hiking across lava fields requires continous awareness and concentration. The lava is uneven, jagged and very sharp. All skin should be covered. If you decide to do this hike, you should have:

  • 2 liters water minimum
  • rainjacket
  • gloves
  • long pants
  • long sleeve shirt
  • first aid kit
  • good shoes
  • one flashlight per person
  • compass (recommended)

Please view this four minute video - "Plan for Safe Viewing of Lava Flows"

Link to December 14 Press Release - Park Provides Access to Lava's West Kaʻiliʻili Ocean Entry

HAZARD ALERT: Lava entering the ocean builds lava deltas. The lava delta and adjacent areas both inland and out to sea are some of the most hazardous areas on the flow field. Frequent delta/bench collapses give little warning, can produce hot rock falls inland and in the adjacent ocean, and can produce large local waves. The steam plume produced by lava entering the ocean contains fine lava fragments and an assortment of acid droplets that can be harmful to your health. The rapidly changing conditions near the ocean entry have been responsible for many injuries and a few deaths.

 
USGS lava flow map

USGS - Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory lava flow map.

Bright red marks approximate flow expansion from November 21 to December 13.

Note, the ocean entry is back inside the park boundary.

Link to larger map (pdf - 226KB)

 

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Halema`uma`u before dawn

NPS Photo

Halemaʻumaʻu just before dawn viewed from the Kīlauea Overlook on March 1 2011

Dec 13, 2011 - There is a 500 ft wide active vent in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater that is emitting a gas and steam plume viewable from Jaggar Museum and the Kīlauea Overlook (and other caldera viewing areas in the park). The level of the lava lake in the vent fluctuates from about 230 ft to 500 ft below the surface. On a clear night there is often a strong orange glow. Halemaʻumaʻu web cam (opens in new window).

Sept 21 2011 - Fissure Eruption on the East Flank of Puʻu ʻŌʻō (pdf-639KB)



The lava lakes in the Puʻu ʻŌʻō crater as well as other views may be viewed on webcameras made available by the scientists at USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Daily updates by staff that monitor Hawaiʻi's volcanoes provide visitors with the most recent observations on volcanic conditions.


 
Halema`uma`u vent - June 2, 2011 - web cam view

USGS Webcamera

Webcam view of the lava lake within the summit vent in Halemaʻumaʻu on June  2, 2011.

Links to More Information:

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Scientist's Daily Updates
Webcams
Air Quality Monitors
Earthquakes - Hawaiʻi
Earthquakes - Worldwide
Multimedia/Photos/Videos

 

If you are interested in more information about the Kīlauea east rift zone, we invite you to watch the video cast of USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geophysicist Mike Poland from our After Dark in the Park presentation on August 23, 2011. Mike discusses the volcanic history of the area. It's one hour in length and can be viewed here

 
Pu`u `O`o view from Pu`u Huluhulu before the collapse
Scott Rowland of The University of Hawaiʻi captured this shot of Puʻu ʻŌʻō from the Puʻu Huluhulu lookout the evening before Puʻu ʻŌʻō collapsed and the west flank eruption began on August 3rd 2011.
 

 


 

The following links are to NPS informative posters regarding the Kamoamoa eruption.

March 5, 2011: New Changes in the Eruption of Kīlauea (pdf-604KB)
March 9, 2011: Dynamic Forces Transform the Landscape (pdf-663KB)

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Last Updated: January 04, 2012 at 13:44 MST